Massachusetts
same-sex marriage ban proposal goes to legislature

A Massachusetts ballot question proposed for the 2008 statewide election that would ban same-sex marriage has been backed up by the required number of signatures and will now be forwarded to the legislature for its review, secretary of state William Galvin announced on Tuesday. The question would halt the marriages of gay and lesbian couples that have been allowed in Massachusetts since May 2003. The house and senate will have to approve the question in two successive legislatures for it to go on the 2008 ballot.

Galvin had to verify that petitioners gathered 65,825 signatures, with no more than 16,456 from any one county. Local election clerks had previously checked to ensure that the names were those of registered voters. (AP)